The 1967–68 English football season was Aston Villa's 69th season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Second Division following relegation the previous season. Villa had been in decline for several years; the club had an ageing five-man board "who had failed to adapt to the new football reality".Ward, Adam, p. 98
The former player-manager of promotion winning Mansfield Town, 38-year-old Tommy Cummings was appointed Aston Villa manager in the summer of 1967 reportedly on a three-year contract at £5,000 per year.Aston Villa Manager, The Times, 8 July 1967 His predecessor, Dick Taylor's heavy investment in new players had failed disastrously plunging the club into deep financial trouble. Taylor, chief scout Jimmy Easson and second team coach Johnny Dixon were sacked not long after the club had been relegated. Peter Doherty joins Villa as chief scout, The Birmingham Post, 3 July 1968, p40 Cummings failed to rebuild the scouting network nor an effective coaching structure. The fans' calls for the board to resign became more and more pronounced when Villa finished 16th.Ward, Adam, p. 100
Brian Godfrey (143) was transferred, with Brian Greenhalgh (40), from Preston North End in September 1967. Godfrey scored on his Villa debut, and he and Greenhalgh scored 18 goals between them in their first 17 games in Villa colours. Other debuts included Fred Turnbull (161), John Dunn (101), Tommy Mitchinson (49), John Inglis (3), and Dick Edwards.
In the Second City derby Villa lost both matches.
Football League Second Division
Matches
Source: avfchistory.co.uk
FA Cup
Third Round Proper The 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage. The matches were played on Saturday, 27 January 1968. Ten matches were drawn, with replays taking place later the same week, and one tie required a second replay.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDateAttendanceNotes10Aston Villa3–0Millwall27 January 1968 Fourth Round Proper The matches were played on Saturday, 17 February 1968. Six matches were drawn and replayed later the same week.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDateAttendanceNotes2Aston Villa0–1Rotherham United17 February 1968
League Cup
Ties Home teamScoreAway teamDate Northampton Town 3–1 Aston Villa 13 September 1967 References
External links AVFC History: 1967-68 season